How do I use iHound on my iPhone?
There are a few ways to use iHound to protect your device.
1. Send a Push Notification to your device
If you have lost your iPhone / iPod Touch, you can send it a notification. From the web site, you can choose which sound you want to play and compose a text message (or choose from one of the pre-existing templates). When your device receives the notification, the sound is played at maximum volume for a full 30 seconds, and your text message is displayed. If the device was idle, then a slider appears... if someone who has your iPhone slides that slider, then iHound will open up and transmit your phone's location to the iHound server. This method is especially effective if you have a spoof screen setup, since the person will not necessarily realize the phone is being tracked as alarms are sounding, your iPhone is sending its coordinates back to the iHound server and the likely-hood of finding your device is increased tremendously.
2. Running with Passcode Lock
The most effective way to use iHound is to keep it running when you're not using your phone, and to keep the phone protected using the built-in passcode lock functionality. While the phone is idle, iHound will continue to transmit your location according to your frequency settings. If someone picks up your phone and tries to open it, they will be challenged with the passcode. During that time, iHound is still sending your phone's location to the iHound server. Hint: think about times and places where you might be apt to lose your iPhone... you know, those places where you check your pockets often just to make sure you haven't dropped anything... at a party, taking the subway, sitting in a movie theater... those are the most sensible times to use iHound running with passcode lock and a spoof screen.
3. iHound Enabled Apps
In addition to iHound itself, there are also iHound Enabled Apps. You can find them by searching for "iHound" in the App Store. When these Apps are running, they transmit your location to the iHound server.
Why iHound Software? Because iHound is...
- Common Sense: You've just purchased an iPhone and/or iPod Touch, protect your investment by purchasing, installing and running iHound Software!
- Cost Effective: A new iPhone can range from $200-$500, iHound Software only costs a few dollars and can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in replacement costs.
- Armed with Push Notifications: Send your iPhone or iPod Touch a push notification with an alarm to alert everyone that your device is lost or stolen.
- Security: Launching iHound Software on your iPhone before putting it to sleep ensures that no matter where you are, your phone is always within reach and traceable using the iHound website.
- An Aid In Recovering Your Lost or Stolen iPhone / iPod Touch: iHound Software allows users who have tracked their lost or stolen iPhone to easily print a police report with key details needed for the police to track it down. iHound uses the unique identifier on each iPhone to ensure that the iPhone being located is indeed yours.
At iHound, we are focused on helping you use your mobile devices more securely, protecting your digital identity from the time you turn on your new iPhone and/or iPod Touch. As your iPhone or iPod Touch becomes an integral part of your daily routine, you will begin to "trust" your device. Eventually, as you input more information into your phone you may find yourself at risk of having your online identity stolen or losing valuable personal information if your iPhone is ever lost or stolen. These risks are easier to mitigate than one might initially believe. Follow these four essential tips and you can potentially save yourself weeks of damage control. So, even if you use your iPhone strictly for play, it pays to implement iHound and dramatically reduce the possibilities of losing your device.
iPhone, iPod Touch Security Tip #1: Download and enable iHound software
Visit www.ihoundsoftware.com, sign up for a free user account and then purchase and download iHound Software for the iPhone. Combined with the security tips below, your chances of recovering a lost or stolen iPhone increases dramatically.
iPhone, iPod Touch Security Tip #2: Enable Auto-Lock
One of the most basic iPhone security functions is the Auto-Lock feature. This feature locks your device's touch screen once the device has been left unused for a preset period of time. Users can choose to set their iPhones to lock after not being used for one, two, three, four or five minutes.
Auto-Lock is turned on by default, however you can change these settings by first clicking the main iPhone Settings icon, tapping the General tab and then hitting Auto-Lock, and then select the desired time period. Finally, exit the Auto-Lock and Settings screens by tapping the box in the display's top left corner.
Though Auto-Lock is not exactly a security function on its own, when combined with the Pass-code safeguard described below, and iHound software you will increase the security of your digital life dramatically.
iPhone, iPod Touch Security Tip #3: Enable Pass-code Lock
The iPhone Auto-Lock disables the device's screen for a preset time-period of non-use, when combined with the top two security tips, the Pass-code Lock feature reduces the risk of your device being lost or stolen. Whenever the device's display locks, no matter why, Pass-code Lock requires a four-digit code to be entered before anyone can use the device again.
To turn on Pass-code Lock, simply click the main iPhone Settings icon, hit General and then tap Pass-code Lock. On the Pass-code Lock menu screen, enable the function by tapping Turn Pass-code On. Then you will be prompted to enter a new pass-code. Quality passwords are completely random and should not be chosen based on anniversaries, birthdays or other dates, numbers that could be uncovered by a thief or hacker.
iPhone iPod Touch Security Tip #4: Activate iHound When You Finish Using Your iPhone
When you are finished with a phone call, checking your email, playing a game, or using your iPhone for any other reason, simply launch the iHound application and put your iPhone in sleep mode (by pressing the button on the top of the phone). If you accidentally leave your iPhone behind, or if it gets stolen, here's what will happen:
1. While you are connected to a carrier network, iHound will continue delivering its location to the server.
2. Any time someone tries to "wake up" your iPhone, the passcode lock challenge will appear. While this is happening, iHound is continuing to call home in the background.
You can now track your iPhone at our web site.
Additional Tip: In order to make launching iHound super easy to remember, we recommend placing the iHound icon in your iPhone's home dock (the icons that always appear on the bottom of the screen).
Additional Tips for iPod Touch Users
Since iPod Touch is not connected to a carrier network, iHound will only be able to phone home when the device is awake and connected to a Wi-Fi network. Be sure to connect to as many safe Wi-Fi networks as you can, especially when at a Wi-Fi network in which you frequent. The more networks this product can automatically connect to, the easier it will become to locate your lost or stolen iPod Touch. As you connect to these "friendly" networks, your device will spend less time identifying and connecting to networks and more time connecting to iHound's network, helping you recover a lost or stolen device in the future.
What If I Forgot To Activate iHound And Lock My iPhone?
In cases where you lose your iPhone, do not have iHound activated, and do not have passcode lock enabled, all is not lost! There is still a chance you will be able to track and recover your device. With iHound Version 2.0+, you can send a push notification to your iPhone or iPod Touch which will play a loud alarm for 30 seconds, notifying people near your device that it is lost or stolen. If someone picks up your phone and slides it on while the alarm is playing, iHound will open up and track your phone. This is especially effective if you use a "spoof screen" (screens that cover up the main iHound screen so people don't know it's running and tracking your phone's location).
When combined, these simple security tips will help you live a more secure mobile lifestyle and that is what iHound is all about.
Join the iHound revolution and take control of your digital identity today!